Lexington County Deputies Arrest One Accused of Stealing Puppy

Lexington County Sheriff's deputies arrested a 20-year-old woman accused of stealing a 10-week-old St. Bernard puppy from Pets Inc.

Kandis Lynn Dease, of Lexington, turned herself in to authorities on Friday on a charge of petit larceny.

Deputies also obtained arrest warrants for Malcolm Joshua Dickerson, 21, of Columbia, and Rebecca Michelle Howell, 19, of Lexington. Both are wanted on a charge of petit larceny.

Dease was with Dickerson and Howell when Howell allegedly took a white-and-brown Saint Bernard puppy named Justice from the Pets, Inc. animal adoption center at 300 Orchard Drive without making arrangements to adopt the puppy and pay the adoption fee around 5:45 p.m. on July 8, according to a release.

Pets Inc. released a surveillance video of the suspects on July 15.

Dease’s arrest was the fourth arrest made in connection with puppies stolen from the adoption center.

Deputies arrested three women on Wednesday, July 17, for petit larceny for allegedly stealing a six-week-old puppy from Pets Inc. on July 9.

Amanda Kay Cirmella, 26, of Leesville, Megan Marie Howard, 22, of Aiken and Brittany Leigh Yontz, 19, of Gilbert have been charged. The three have since been released from the Lexington County Detention Center on personal recognizance bonds.

Both puppies were returned to the center earlier this week.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dickerson and Howell should call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.